Shane Patrick returns for his second year as Sumner’s varsity girl’s basketball coach.
Also returning to the team is junior forward Jamie Lange. Lange was First Team All-League and is described by Patrick as a dominant player for the team’s offense and defense.
Junior guard Anna Hurd was Second Team All-League and is a strong shooter and defensive stopper, said Patrick.
Key additions this year include senior Nicole Qualls, an experienced point guard, and freshman guard Joy Mahnken.
“(Mahnken) brings a high basketball IQ as a freshman,” said Patrick.
The team includes three seniors; Qualls, Madison Henken and Alex Denzinger.
“I expect us to be very competitive in our league this year,” said Patrick. “Our goal is to be playing our best basketball by mid-February with the hopes of making a run in the play-offs.”
The Spartans will play Rogers High School at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 and Bonney Lake High School at 7 p.m. Dec. 13. Both games will be played at home in Sumner.
Coach Brett McDaniel is leading the Sumner boys basketball team for the 11th year. The Spartans are unique in the fact that they work hard on the court, but also in class and out in the community, he said.
“I enjoy everything about the game when its just about coaching, teaching and mentoring. I love the family we have around the basketball community here at SHS. We have a great culture that we have worked hard to develop and it all starts with our amazing youth coaches in our SBA program,” McDaniel said in an email.
Players to watch this year include guard Keenan Jackson, who is poised for a breakout year, according to McDaniel.
Riley ‘Wiley Riley’ Bruil is the team’s fundamentally sound, do-it-all guard with a silky smooth shot, said McDaniel.
McDaniel said he expects to see a defensive mentality come from Austin Ford, Triston Pearson, Tyson Birrer, Luc Hubbard and Jace Johnson.
The boys ended last season with a 17-10 record, losing to Lynden in state regionals. Ford sustained an injury during that game and is expected to be back on the court in a few more weeks, according to McDaniel.
Sumner will host Bonney Lake at 7 p.m. Friday.
